Playing Soldiers

Togged out in varicolored uniforms (gold, scarlet, yellow, blue, green), in vari-shaped headgear (silvered helmets, bear-skins, overseas caps, berets, "ten-gallon" sombreros), 70,000 members of the American Legion last week went to Boston for their annual convention. There they paraded, many with their wives, over a 10-mi. course. From end to end the town blared with martial music, fluttered with flags. Down Tremont Street where in a reviewing stand stood the Secretaries of War and Navy, General John Joseph Pershing, General Henri Joseph Etienne Gouraud (governor of Paris), National Commander O. Lee Bodenhamer of the Legion and the six New England Governors, came floats depicting War scenes, industrial scenes, comedy scenes. More than 1,000,000 spectators camped on the sidewalks, some with lunchbaskets, or sat in grandstands along the route.

When the parade was over the Legionaries met in Boston Arena, elected a graduate of Harvard Law School, Ralph Thomas ("Dyke") O'Neil of Topeka, Kans., War-time Infantry captain cited for gallantry. to be their National Commander for the ensuing year. They hung a wreath on him, hoisted him on their shoulders, stomped, clapped, shouted. After many a speech they adopted resolutions petitioning Congress to: 1) prevent Communist activity in the U. S.; 2) build the Navy up to Treaty strength; 3) maintain an Army of 137,000 officers & men; 4) enlarge the National Guard to 210,000.*

Conventions of World War veterans in Europe have large contingents of the gassed and wounded. Present but not marching last week in Boston were many battle-maimed U. S. heroes. But the great majority of American Legionaries never saw front-line action, are now unscarred, robust men in the prime of life. Therefore when 70,000 of them get together to play soldier again it is like a gigantic college reunion, gay, colorful, sometimes ribald. Last week hoodlums took advantage of the occasion to overturn motors, build bonfires, fisticuff in the streets. Lo-cal hospitals treated 358 persons for liquor poisoning; one Legionary and his wife died of this cause. Patients were treated for wounds contracted from being hit by, sitting on, falling on, tripping on, flasks. Massachusetts General Hospital ran out of headache powders.

*Present total Army strength, excluding Philippine scouts: 131,038.

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